Nienna
From the One Wiki to Rule Them All, the Lord of the Rings Encyclopedia.
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Nienna
Biographical information
Physical description
Nienna (Quenya for 'She who weeps') is an Ainu, one of the Queens of the Valar and one of the Aratar. She is the sister of Mandos and Irmo and has no spouse. Her part in the Music of the Ainur was one of deep sadness, and from this grief entered the world in its beginning.
Nienna is concerned with mourning, and she pities the suffering of others, especially the Marring of Arda by Melkor. Her tears bring healing; they flowed to quicken the Two Trees and the bring forth their last flower and fruit after their poisoning. Yet the lesson of Nienna is not of endless grief, but rather of pity, hope, and the endurance of the spirit. Olorin (Gandalf) was her greatest pupil, but she comforts all who dwell in the Halls of Awaiting.
Nienna dwells in far western Valinor near Mandos, and she seldom comes to Valimar. Her windows look out beyond the Walls of the Night. Her name means She who weeps.
The pity of Nienna is most clearly seen in her support for Melkor when he sued for the pardon of the Valar. Though she spends her time in the world mourning for the destruction he has wreaked in Arda, when he sued for release after his three ages of Captivity, Nienna spoke on his part.
[edit] Earlier versions of the Legendarium
In The Book of Lost Tales 1 Nienna was called Fui (Night), the Death-Goddess for she was concerned with death. In Gnomish she was Fuil, the Queen of the Dark. She dwelt in halls which bore her name, and had a roof of bat's wings. Heskil (Winter One) and Núri (Sighing One or One who sights) were her names as well.
[edit] References
| Ainur of Arda | |
|---|---|
| Ainulindalë (Music of the Ainur) | |
| Lords of the Valar: | Manwë | Aulë | Oromë | Irmo (Lórien) | Námo (Mandos) | Tulkas | Ulmo |
| Queens of the Valar (The Valier): | Varda | Yavanna | Vána | Estë | Vairë | Nessa | Nienna |
| The Enemy: | Morgoth (a.k.a. Melkor) |
| Maiar: | Eönwë | Ilmarë | Ossë | Uinen | Salmar | Sauron | Melian | Arien | Tilion | Gothmog Curumo (Saruman) | Ungoliant | Olórin (Gandalf) | Aiwendil (Radagast) | Alatar and Pallando | Durin's Bane |
